by Brian Biggane With 2009 starters Joey Porter and Akin Ayodele likely playing elsewhere next season and Jason Taylor’s future uncertain, the Dolphins have some work to do to fill out their linebacking corps. They took a step in that direction Thursday when they hosted free agent Rashad Jeanty.

Jeanty, 26, who played the last four seasons with Cincinnati, was born in Miami and played at Carol City High School and the University of Central Florida. Failing to catch on with an NFL team, he spent his first four pro seasons with Edmonton of the CFL before signing a two-year deal with Cincinnati in 2006.

Jeanty started 32 games with the Bengals over the past four seasons including 15 in 2008, when he finished second on the team in tackles with 96. Last year he made just one start and totaled 20 tackles.

A 6-foot-2, 247-pounder, Jeanty, 26, suffered a broken leg in the Bengals’ playoff loss to the New York Jets on Jan. 9.

Jeanty played left outside linebacker for Cincinnati. That’s similar to the spot vacated by the departure of Porter; Cameron Wake is expected to have the inside track to start there next year. While it has been speculated Miami will use a high draft pick at the other outside spot, as of now Charlie Anderson and Quentin Moses are the top candidates.

Mike Zimmer did a very good job with the Cincy defense this year, as they finished 4th in overall defense.

6th against the pass, 7th against the rush and 6th in scoring defense at 18.2 points a game, and this was with a good bit of injuries that hit that club late in the season. The offense is what let the Bengals down this year.

Jeanty would be another guy bought in to add depth and competition at the position and he has been a starter for Cincy. Nothing major, but you could always use young depth at a position.

He would probably primarily be a 3rd down LB. It would be interesting to see what he would play if he was forced into a base 34 D situation. If we did sign him, it would probably be the end of Reggie Torbor's stint here.